1972 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc

The 1972 Laville Haut-Brion was born in an inauspicious vintage for the region, although dry white Bordeaux tends to follow its own rules. It has a lucid straw hue. The bouquet is certainly still lively after 45 years, with melted candle wax, Mirabelle, a hint of marmalade and pressed yellow flowers. Although the 1972 does not quite possess the detail of the 1966 Laville-Haut-Brion, I notice that it gains more delineation with time in the glass. The palate is extremely well balanced, with satisfying weight; maybe a little short, but there is probably more freshness here than all the 1972 red Bordeaux combined! It reveals mandarin and hints of ginger with time, so that after a couple of hours it turns into probably the best 1972 Bordeaux you could drink. Tasted at a white Bordeaux-themed private dinner in London.